Our roster wouldn’t be complete without a shout-out to our furry mascot, Patches.
Patches is our five-year-old standard poodle who—let’s just say—doesn’t exactly play well with others. He was a COVID puppy, and while you might think we didn’t socialize him enough, trust me, we tried. I faithfully took him to doggy daycare and group puppy classes. But by the time he was about a year old, I started hearing the dreaded phrase: “Maybe he would do better in private play.”
Excuse me? My sweet boy? Not fit for group play?!
A Rocky Start
Keeping Patches home instead of taking him to day care came with its own challenges. Walking him was… let’s just say, an event. He was wild, unpredictable, and honestly, I almost gave up. A few trainers tried to help, but even they threw in the towel.
That’s when we discovered Sit Means Sit. Their trainer came out for an evaluation and recommended a 10-day board-and-train program at their facility. After that, they worked with me on what came next.
When Patches came back, he was a whole new dog. Well, sort of. The basics were there, but it was clear that this was going to be a marathon, not a sprint.
Feisty Fido & Weekly Workouts
To this day, I still work with Patches throughout the week and take him to special group training classes called Feisty Fido. The name says it all. These classes have been a game-changer for us, giving me the tools and confidence to handle my not-so-social pup.
And this week, something amazing happened.
Patches at the Ball Field
Leyla’s new softball team was practicing right after Patches’ Feisty Fido class, so I decided to do something I hadn’t tried in nearly four years—I brought him to the field.
And guess what?
Patches was an angel!
He sat calmly, stayed focused, and acted like the best-behaved dog in the park. Sure, I had to maneuver around a few other dogs, but Patches handled it all like a champ.
For the first time in years, I felt like I had the freedom to bring him places without stressing. It felt like a win for both of us.
Our Mascot
So while he may never win “Most Social Pup” at doggy daycare, Patches has officially earned his spot as The Family Dugout Mascot. He’s a reminder that training, patience, and persistence pay off—even if the road is long and winding.
Here’s to many more games, practices, and family outings with our feisty but faithful mascot right by our side.
Do you have any challenges with your family’s pet? I’d love to hear! Please let me know in the comments.